You CAN Change the World

Here’s to the people on the streets in Russia and everywhere around the world seeking to make positive change in their [sub]/subba/culture:

The Mighty, Mighty Young at Heart

Meanwhile, the Committee meeting this afternoon will give me the impetus to comment on the future of our global society due to influence of the likes of Kim Jong Il and Vaclav Havel and their inheritable replacements, both real and imagined.

Thanks to the folks at Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church last night for putting on a great show — very moving, deeply touching and a wonderful start to the end of this year taking us into the hope and promise of 2012.

Glad 2011 is behind us!!!

The Rhonda Vincent music video…

more like a slideshow.

Limited time on the computer this weekend.  A more complicated video next week (I promise (kinda like a politician’s promise (maybe))).

Next music video in the works

Here is a hint about a new “stop action” music video in the works:

While Rhonda’s in the studio finishing up the work on her new album, I’ll use her paper doll set and a song of hers to create an animated, “stop action” music video.

Happy Holidays, everyone…Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year, etc.

A little break before returning to the story of your lives currently in progress.  Have you ordered your suborbital test flight tickets yet?

Theatre of the Absurdists

Choices of entertainment for one evening:

In an ode to Newt’s passion for adultery, here is the choice that was made:

Entertaining, indeed.

Contrast this with the Rockettes show we saw a while back and it tells us much.

First of all, humour is flavoured varietally.  If there is a supreme being, then we can safely assume that every variation on a theme has been concocted and projected by the being in one form or another.

We can easily say that every subculture has a means of positive reinforcement of its living standards.

Those who praise a supreme being, which may or may not actively participate in their lives, will find a way to center their thoughts and actions on positive reinforcement of their praise and beliefs.

Those who find no justification for beings in any form, seen or unseen, creative or destructive, will find a way to center their thoughts and actions on positive reinforcement of their beliefs.

It was at summer church camp that I learned from listening to camp counselors about five years older than me about a Saturday evening program called Saturday Night Live.

Thus, while my parents taught me the values of moral and ethical training found within their Christian belief system, I learned not only from them but also from those within that system who sought other forms of enlightenment to feed their desire for intellectual stimulation not readily available in the repeated, steady diet of annual Christian rites and rituals.

College football games.  MAD magazine.  Television shows (minus coverage of the Vietnam War, which my father expressly forbid us from viewing nightly news footage of such).

Of the list of choices at the top of this blog, I have seen them all in one form or another, in this or a previous year.

Constant learning.  Continuous improvement.  Infinite curiosity.  Stoking my imagination.

What did I learn last night?

Well, the level of talent in Huntsville and the surrounding area varies.  I saw an absurdist theatre production of “Cabaret” crossed with “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” both which I first observed in my youth.

If you claim a Christian background and current practice schedule, when your children go to bed on the 24th of December, will you have put into their thoughts a prayer toward Santa Claus or Jesus for the gifts they hope to receive in the morning?

For the rest of the world, what do the next few weeks of your exposure to frantic holiday shopping and bright light displays mean to you and your family?

Georgia (no, not Russia) and Russia (no, not Moscow, Idaho)

But can he ride a rocket out of the country?

December 14, 2011, 19:15 | Science | Ivan Cheberko 3

Ракетчики останутся в заложниках у Родины Rocketeers will remain hostage to the Motherland

Руководитель Роскосмоса Владимир Поповкин запретил ездить на отдых за границу носителям государственных тайн Head of Russian Federal Space Agency Vladimir Popovkin forbidden to go on holiday abroad holders of state secrets

Rocketeers will remain hostage to the MotherlandРуководитель Федерального космического агентства (Роскосмос) Владимир Поповкин. Head of Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) Vladimir Popovkin. Фото: РИА НОВОСТИ/Артем Житенёв Photo: RIA Novosti / Artem Zhitenev

Руководитель Manager Федерального Federal космического Space агентства Agency Владимир Vladimir Поповкин Popovkin запретил banned выезд exit за for границу border на on отдых recreation руководителям managers и and сотрудникам employees предприятий businesses Роскосмоса , осведомленных Russian Space Agency, informed о of секретных Secret сведениях . clues.

— – Письмо « Об Letter “On the ограничении Restrictions выезда Check out из of РФ RF работников employees организаций Organizations ракетно – космической Rocket – Space промышленности » датировано 22 ноября , — рассказал « Известиям » высокопоставленный Industry “dated November 22, – told” Izvestia “senior источник source в in Роскосмосе . Roskosmos. — В – In тексте text руководитель manager рекомендует Recommends ограничить limit с 1 января 2012 года from January 1, 2012 выезд exit за for пределы limits РФ RF на on отдых recreation руководителей leaders и and работников , осведомленных employees who are aware о of сведениях DATA особой special важности the importance of или or совершенно секретных Top Secret сведениях DATA организаций. organizations.

Запрет Ban касается As for не not только only организаций Organizations и and предприятий , подведомственных enterprises under the jurisdiction of Роскосмосу . Речь Roscosmos. It также also идет is об about организациях , с organizations, with которыми which у in государства State заключен concluded договор contract о of проведении conduct работ , связанных work-related с with передачей transmission сведений Information особой special важности the importance of или or совсекретных sovsekretnyh сведений . Это довольно широкий круг лиц. of information. This is a pretty wide range of individuals. Например, провести зимний отпуск в Альпах теперь не смогут сотрудники банка, допущенные к сведениям о производстве продукции на предприятиях Роскосмоса. For example, spend winter holidays in the Alps now can not bank employees committed to information about the production process in enterprises Space Agency.

Единственная The only лазейка — здоровье . Если loophole – health. If в in период period отпуска holidays обладателю holder секретов Secrets нужно necessary лечение treatment за for рубежом Abroad и and аналогичных similar процедур procedures в in России Russia не not делают, do по on предписанию prescription врача doctor он he может can получить get разрешение resolution на on выезд . Это check-out. This единственное only исключение , предусмотренное the exception provided приказом Order Поповкина , никаких Popovkin, no других « иных Other “other случаев » в cases “in тексте text нет . no.

— – Это It служебный service документ , и document, and он he вписывается fits в in другие others действующие acting нормативные regulatory акты , касающиеся acts on вопросов issues обеспечения ensure секретности , — заявил « Известиям » руководитель Privacy – said “Izvestia” head пресс – службы Press – service Роскосмоса Russian Space Agency Алексей Alex Кузнецов . Kuznetsov.

Сам Himself Владимир Vladimir Поповкин Popovkin через through своего a пресс – секретаря Press – Secretary Анну Anna Ведищеву Vedischevu заявил « Известиям », что told “Izvestia”, which принятые adopted меры arrangements служат are не not запрету , а ban and упорядочению streamline выезда Check out за for рубеж frontier лиц , осведомленных persons knowledgeable о of секретных Secret сведениях . clues.

— Вопрос – Question о of том , почему why такие such меры arrangements не not принимались taken раньше, before, следует be адресовать address предыдущей previous администрации Administration Роскосмоса , — сказал он. Russian Space Agency, – he said.

В In подведомственных subordinate Роскосмосу Roscosmos предприятиях enterprises распоряжение disposal главы Chapter агентства Agency восприняли perceived без without энтузиазма . Невыездным of enthusiasm. restricted to travel abroad автоматически automatically становится is руководство guide всех all крупнейших the largest предприятий businesses и and холдингов holdings ракетно – космической Rocket – Space отрасли . Часто the industry. Often это it далеко far не not бедные poor люди , их people, their доходы revenue исчисляются calculated сотнями hundred тысяч thousands of долларов USD в in год . Обойти year. Getting Around новый new запрет ban им them будет will сложно , так difficult, because как as паспорта Passport сотрудников , обращающихся employees seeking с with секретами , полагается secrets, it is believed хранить store в in соответствующем appropriate отделе Department предприятия , где enterprises, where эти сотрудники работают . Выдаются these employees work. Issued паспорта Passport по on исполнении performance ряда number of формальностей, formalities и and бесконтрольно uncontrolled выехать leave за for рубеж frontier носитель carrier секретов Secrets не not сможет . can.

— – Наш Our руководитель manager имел had обыкновение habit в in январе January отдыхать rest на on островах Islands Индийского Indian океана , в Ocean, этом this году year он he был was на on Сейшелах , — рассказал « Известиям » собеседник Seychelles – told “Izvestia” interlocutor в in крупном large холдинге , выпускающем Holding, producing ракеты – носители missile – media тяжелого heavy класса . the class. — На – In следующий next год year у in него it другие others планы , но plans, but куда where конкретно specifically он he поедет , я go, I не not знаю . I know.

Заместитель Deputy директора Director крупной large организации organization Роскосмоса Russian Space Agency рассказал , что said that планирует plans получить get справку Help от from медика , подтверждающую physician confirming необходимость need выезда Check out за for рубеж : abroad:

— На – In следующей the next неделе week этим this и and займусь , потому loan, because что that летом in summer у in меня me в in последние last годы years график schedule не not позволяет . Мне allows it. I хочется want to в in тепло, heat и and зимой in winter в in России Russia мне me отдыхать rest негде . no place.

Сам Himself Владимир Vladimir Поповкин Popovkin в in августе August этого it года year проводил conducted отпуск vacation в in Сочи . Источник Sochi. Source в in Роскосмосе Roskosmos рассказывает , что says that руководитель manager не not впервые first адресует addresses отраслевым industry руководителям managers сигнал вести signal to более more скромный modest образ image жизни . Так , в of life. Thus, in начале early августа August этого it года year Роскосмос Roscosmos опубликовал published официальное official сообщение message о of намерении intention изменить change систему system оплаты Payment труда Labour отраслевых industry директоров Directors таким so образом , чтобы way that оклад salary руководителя Head превышал exceeded среднюю average зарплату Salary на on предприятии Company не not более more чем than в in пять five раз . Речь time. It идет is о of довольно rather существенном significant сокращении : в reduction: a этом this году year оклад salary руководителя Head превышает than заработную payroll плату fee работника employee в 8–10 раз . at 8-10.

We hazed at our high school, too (but nobody has died): Hazing death inquiry at Florida A&M: New incident, new investigation

Who are you? I asked you first.

Sometimes I think about a former work colleague of my wife who, paralysed from the neck down, learned to create artwork with a paintbrush in her mouth.

Here I sit, wondering what I’d do if  only I had better computing tools to accomplish my tasks.

If I can’t sing, I can use LaDiDa, by Khush, Inc., to turn my wailings into song.

If I can’t afford to pay for copyrighted music as background to my amateur home comedies, I can use Songify, also by Khush, to turn narration into a backbeat tune.

What to “film” next?

Another satire?

Another tribute?

A view of the future?

The Cameron and Clegg Show

A friend’s facebook status* easily sums up the Cameron screwup at the EU conference, with Sarkozy making the following comment, you can imagine:

“Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries”…Watching the French taunting of the silly English k-niggits. Gotta love me some Python!

Life imitating art, or something like that.

Tonight, while sitting with Chuck, Sharon, Janet, Steve and my wife at my wife’s office Christmas party, I pondered the universe and my place as reluctant leader of the Committee…

When my wife is too tired to dance and the room is full of lovely ladies willing to dance, why am I sitting at the table writing in my pocket Moleskine?

When senior leaders walk the crowd to show off their ties in hopes of winning the ugliest tie contest, why is the latest supercomputer output sitting unread in my home office?

Do you have your finger on the pressure valve of your subculture?  Are you citizens easily placated?

Can you tell the difference between the two clones, Cameron and Clegg, the Yin and Yang of British politics?

Thanks to AC and Rachel at Walmart, the staff at the Huntsville Marriott, the Huntsville police on patrol, and the coordinator(s) of the Torch Technologies Christmas party.

A group of my work colleagues are happily celebrating the official receipt of their U.S. patent number.  I’ll help them with specifications and marketing docs because I believe in their faith in themselves.

As Richard Branson said, helping others is what we do best.  Profit is the aftereffect of a life well lived.

Sorry I missed Christabel and the Jons last night — my wife was too ill to dance so I stayed with her, watching a college football game while she make homemade holiday gifts for friends.

Back to the supercomputer output — time waits for no report that feeds on the report that fed on itself iteratively.  Should I buy a [Flash] Gordon style supercomputer to put in the attic and displace the raccoons?

Is it just me or are the Nobel Peace Prize winners getting younger and younger?  When will a newborn child, the result of genetic reengineering, receive the Nobel Peace Prize and Time IoT Object of the Year award within days of birth?

Thanks to Coleen Monroe, *Kimberly Lewis, Elexa Rose, all the new friends on facebook, and the guy at Walmart who plans to raise a flooded houseboat tomorrow (the whole thing about 12/20/2011, though, will pass in a little over a year, and society will move on to the next great prediction of doomsday, as it always has and always will, because of the need to feed our survival traits when things are generally going well for some but not others (i.e., all the time), a favourite subject for those in public (e.g., politicians) who want your attention AND your money/time/investments/labour credits).

Ever wonder why no one seems to talks about acid rain anymore?

Sprinkles and Showers

While MPs and other elected members of political entities take advantage of insider news to line their pockets with all that does and does not glitter like gold, a Supercommittee (super as in “constituting a more inclusive category than that specified”*, not as in “great”) contemplates a purpose neither divine nor supporting Divine’s cinematic roles.  More on that later today.

Meanwhile, a jazzlike rendition of Haydn’s Piano Trio XV:28 in E Major: Allegretto sets the tone, a la the style of Claude Bolling and Jean-Pierre Rampal.